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The first-ever limits on carbon pollution from power plants can save American households and business customers $37.4 billion on their electric bills in 2020 while creating more than 274,000 jobs, a Natural Resources Defense Council analysis shows.

Those are among the tangible potential benefits of the anticipated limits on carbon pollution spewing from the nation's coal- and gas-fired power plants. The standards are the centerpiece of President Obama's plan to combat climate change and are scheduled to be unveiled on Monday.

The NRDC analysis was conducted by ICF International, using NRDC's assumptions. ICF is a highly respected firm that has studied electricity markets for industry and government alike. The projected benefits are based on an innovative proposal NRDC advanced in December 2012, and updated this March, that has drawn widespread notice.

If the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency adopts a similar approach, the nation would slash carbon pollution by 531 million tons per year, nearly 25 percent by 2020 from 2012 levels (nearly 950 million tons and 35 percent below 2005 levels), helping deliver more than $50 billion in health and environmental benefits, NRDC's analysis shows.

"Most Americans support curbing dangerous carbon pollution from power plants because it's the right thing to do. Cleaning up dirty power plants can be a bonanza for public health and a boon for energy efficiency jobs - and save Americans on their electric bills,' said Daniel Lashof, Chief Operating Officer at NextGen Climate America, and senior fellow at NRDC who oversaw development of the NRDC proposal. 'This is a winning step toward a cleaner, cheaper and healthier 21st Century energy future. It's time to get moving.'

NRDC's approach, introduced in December 2012, is largely driven by energy efficiency investments and grants states the flexibility to meet the standards in ways that best meet their individual needs, such as accounting for their differing energy mixes.